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| The desk and hobby setup |
Speaking of "the bench", a few months ago we re-did our study area: that meant an Ikea assault and resulted in a new desk arrangement, couch and display cabinet. So with the hobby area under control and verified as acceptably neat by the Mrs, let me share the current projects...
Eldar Howling Banshees
The release of Kill Team Elites included rules for Banshees - Eldar fast assault troops. There are a few variations that the rules accommodate for including "Mirror Swords" (apparently duel swords) and an "Executioner" (some sort of power glaive). I already have 8 painted Banshees, but with Kill Teams running at 100-125 point games, I can now include more figures in a 'Banshee Horde' type game.
So I hit the workshop and modified four old metal models: one where I detached the sword from her hair/head (+ did some greenstuff to fix up the join mark), another with her pistol swapped for a second/mirror sword, a third were I swapped the sword from her right to left hand + gave her a new gun and the final one equipped with a polearm I made out of a bit of wire wrapped with sports tape, the end of some Eldar gun and Jain Zar's "Zhai Morenn" blade.
Each of the models took a bit of drilling, pinning and greenstuff - it was all a bit of a learning experience for me. All going to plan I'll have those girls finished in a couple more sessions.
Jain Zar
My very first Phoneix Lord, I'd been putting off painting her forever. But today, for reasons unknown, I decided to see what I could do and made some decent progress.
I've been deliberately avoiding using metallics on my Eldar but for the special units. Jain Zar's copper armour is courtesy of Army Painter True Copper, a paint that hasn't failed me yet and I'm liking it a lot. I think I may try highlighting the same with either Hashnut Copper or even Gehenna's Gold (except I haven't had much joy with gold ever).
At some point I will need to work out what to do with her base - I was thinking of trying to have her running over the corpse of a fallen foe. Watch this space.
At some point I will need to work out what to do with her base - I was thinking of trying to have her running over the corpse of a fallen foe. Watch this space.
Dreadnoughts
I purchased two Dreadnoughts a few months back. Whilst the plastic Imperial Dread has languished - I want to get him done if for no other reason than to provide Charlie with another tank-like thing to have his lounge-room battles - it's chaotic brother has forged ahead and is now at clean-up stage - fixing little mistakes, doing some last highlights, that sort of thing.
The Chaos Dreadnought has been a fun model to pain and also marks the first time I've put some effort into making a base, using a big chunk of metal I found on the side of the road and bits of things (?) all piled in - it kind of looks like some smashed factory floor or something.
The model's left arm is magnetised, and I've cleverly included some metal scrap in the base so I can store one of the arm options (I have made three) on the same. I like him and he's sparked a desire to paint up some new Chaos allies (see below) for a scenario that's brewing.
Swooping Hawks
Some things are embarrassing. These birdies have been sitting in this state for what seems an eternity - there's just something about them that just isn't working for me. I do like the pink helms and turquoise armour (I've previously completed two models in the same style which I mostly like)... maybe it is the dark brown flight suits? No harm done: if they don't grow on me, I'll strip them and start again.
Harlequin
Yep, there's a sole, lonely Harlequin that I've painted over 15 or more times to test various schemes on. I've got a dozen of these metal elfies in the shed but can't seem to get into them just yet. It just occurred to me that I might be able to use them for bits: their pistols and swords could work nicely...mmm.And that's about it for 'works in progress'. I happen to have other bits and bobs on the bench as well. I'm not exactly sure why... let's have a quick peek in any event...
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| Speaking of Chaos, off the enjoyment I've had with the Dreadnought, I've shuffled these two models forward in the Queue. The guy on the left is a Chaos Champion of old - horns and all the cool stuff. To the right is a Chaos techmarine, complete with a crazy mechanical claw backpack! Something tells me they're all going to have some fun in the years ahead. |
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| This is a very old model of mine - back from my Logical Choice days! Whatever weapon etc he's meant to have in his right hand, I don't know. I found this nasty looking piece of work in my bits box and plonked it on. I don't mind it. The idea was for him to be used in my Space Hulk set. |
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| Some Eldar. The two gun operators are there because they're the only two I haven't done. The Fire Dragons... I think the idea was to bring my current five (+1 with a modified, guardian's head) to an even 10 + Exarch. The other guy - one of the old Rogue Trader models - I'm unsure what he's doing there - I've already painted the same a while back. Oh well. |
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| A few more Tau. The plan there is to get them up to an even 10 (I have four already painted - go figure) and use them as one of the security forces for Hardwired. Similarly I had a similar plan for these Kasakans (is that what they're called?). Blah, humans! |